European journal of pediatric surgery : official journal of Austrian Association of Pediatric Surgery ... [et al] = Zeitschrift für Kinderchirurgie
-
Accurate and early diagnosis of acute scrotum is of the utmost importance to avoid testicular loss and/or needless surgery. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical presentation and physical examination parameters together with the results of imaging studies in order to find out predictors for the differential diagnosis of acute scrotum with special emphasize on testicular torsion (TT). Patients who were treated for acute scrotum in our unit from 1970 up to and including 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. ⋯ Elevation and transverse location of testis with an anteriorly rotated epididymis associated with loss of ipsilateral cremasteric reflex strongly indicate TT. Although accuracy of imaging studies is higher for the differential diagnosis of TTA and EO, there is a considerable risk of misdiagnosis. Therefore, differential diagnosis of acute scrotum, particularly TT, still remains a clinical diagnosis, and clinical parameters deserve more importance in surgical decision making.